Stop-cock for air-brake systems.



PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906.

S. H. DUNNING.

STOP- COCK FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.7,1906.

I ATTORNEYS.

WiTNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed April 7. 1906- Serial No 310,514.

ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings, and to letters of reference marke thereon, which form a 5 part of this specification.

My invention is an improvement in stopcocks for the main air-pipes of air-brake systems.

It has for its object to so construct a stopcock of this nature and used for substantially the purpose indicated that the same may not be tampered with by unauthorized persons, so as to cut off any part of the system, at least without the engineer or other person in control of the system being advised thereof.

To this end my invention consists in a stopcock provided with means controlled by a key for locking the valve thereof in the open position, and, furthermore, so constructed that even thou h the valve be surreptitiously unlocked and t on closed the system will be automatically vented so as to set the brakes on all the cars corresponding to the part of the system vented, and thus advise the engineer that one of the stop-cocks of the system has been tampered with.

In the accompanying drawin s, wherein my invention will be found fully illustrated, Figure 1 is a view, shown partlyin side elevation and partly in section, of my improved stopcock. Fig. 2 is a view showing partly in elevation and partly in section the plug or valve of said stop-cock. Fig. 3 shows the key, and Fig. 4 is a view of the cover-plate for the looking mechanism.

The stop-cock a has the port 1) extending therethrough, the conical plug or valve 0, provided with the port d, and a handle e, arranged to abut against a stop on the body of the stop-cock when the va ve is open, a plug g, screwed into-the conical bore h of the stopcock which receives the valve c, and the spiral spring 41, interposed between theplug and the valve, all as in the usual construction of devices of this nature.

The body of the stop-cock is formed with an integral shell j in an opening k, in the wall of which adjoining the valve 0 and in a recess Z opposed to said opening and formed in the opposite wall of said shell is arranged to slide a bolt m, having a shoulder 1, between which and the wall of the shell in which the recess 1 is formed is interposed a spiral spring 0, coiled about the bolt. The recess Z is squared in cross-section, and the .bolt having a similar cross-section and being fitted thereto is thus prevented from rotation. In the valve 0 is a recess which when alined with the opening 5 k is a apted to receive the end of the bolt m.

The recess is so arranged that the bolt m will be received by the recess to lock the valve when the latters port (1 opens up communication through the stopcock.

g is the key for operating the bolt m; r, a centering-spindle for the key arranged in the chamber or shell 7'; s, an arc-shaped guard arranged concentrically with reference to the spindle 1' and formed to fit the bit of the key, and t a notch formed in the bolt to receive the bit of the key and affording a shoulder u, igliereupon the bit may engage to shoot the v is a cover-plate for the shell 1'.

It will be understood that inasmuch as the keys will be carried only by authorized persons the valve 0 cannot be 0 erated unless a key is employed to shoot t e bolt; but in order to prevent the valve being under any circumstances moved by any one without the knowledge of the engineer the valve 0 is provided with a port w, which communicates, on the one hand, with a port at, leading to the main port I), and, on the other hand,with the atmosphere whenever ports w and a; coincide-i. (5., when the valve is in the fullyclosed position. Thus constructed, if any stop-cock in the system were closed the engineer would be at once advised thereof, because the air-escape provided by way of the ports a; and w would set the brakes on the part of the train forward of the stop-cock thus manipulated and so advise the engineer. The port w has its upper end turned downwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, and since it opens through a surface of the valve-handle e, which overhan s and is close to the top of the shell j, its dischar e end is more or less hidden and inaccessib e and the accumulation of dirt, &c., which 010 it up, is prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 In an air-brake system, 'a stop-cock comprising the body portion formed with an integral shell, the rotating valve having a radial bolt-receiving recess, and a spring-actuated key-operative bolt arranged in said shell in operative position to en age in said recess, substantially as describe 2. In an air-brake system, a stop-cock comprising the body portion formed with an integral shell, the rotating valve having a radial bolt-receiving recess, a key-o erative bolt arranged in opposite walls of said shell in operative position to engage said recess and having, within the shell, a shoulder, and a spring interposed between one 'Wall of said shell and the shoulder and coiled about said bolt.

port and leading to the atmosphere through the surface. of said overhanging part which is next adjacent to the body portion, substan tially as described. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my handthis 17th day of March, 1906.

SAMUEL H. DUNNING.

Witnesses:

WM. D. BELL, ALFRED GARTNER. 

